Free Republic

Longtime Illinois Congressman Phillip Crane, a northwest suburban Republican who championed conservative principles and once ran for president, died Saturday in Maryland, according to family.. Crane, who suffered from congestive heart failure and lung cancer, died of respiratory failure in a daughter's home in Jefferson, Md., according to another daughter, Catherine Hott, of Berryville, Va.

Freshman Democrat Melissa Bean will "pay a serious price" for voting for the Central American Free Trade Agreement in the U.S. House, a top labor leader said Thursday, predicting that unions will deny her crucial support in her effort to hold on to her northwest suburban congressional seat. "Almost all the unions in this particular area supported her both with mobilization -- knocking on doors -- and with money, and up comes what is a true test in terms of a vote, and she can't stand with us?" said Gerald McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and...

The following tribute to two decent Congressmen is posted in FrontPageMag.com's "War Blog" today. TWO CONGRESSMEN I'LL MISS by Ben Johnson FrontPage Magazine In the aftermath of the presidential election, two significant Congressional races have gone unnoticed. Last Tuesday, America lost two representatives who have served their districts and their nation honorably: Charlie Stenholm of Texas and Phil Crane of Illinois. Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-TX, earned a reputation as one of his party's most responsible moderates. Representing the interests of west Texas, he became the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee. During his 25-year tenure, he displayed his mainstream...

The lanquid voices of NPR's ALL THINGS CONSIDERED were celebrating the defeat of longtime conservative Republican Phil Crane. This information was mentioned twice during a twenty minute span of covering the outcome of the election. While many of us would consider that anyone who had served over three decades in the House had served long enough we would have to make an exception for Phil Crane who has been one of the greats of conservative activism. He is also a very nice fellow, a handsome man, has a great sense of humor, and goes the extra mile to make us...

This is my first (and likely last) vanity, but I wanted to point out one of the sadder notes within all the well-deserved GOP euphoria over last night's election. Congressman Phil Crane (R-IL) was defeated in his bid for re-election. This saddens me greatly, as Crane was one of my first political heroes - as well as one of the true leaders of the New Right that took Washington by storm in the early 1980's. While serving in Congress, Crane took a long-shot at capturing the GOP nomination for President in 1980, running against - and to the right of...

92% of precincts reporting Melissa Bean, Dem 131,280 51.9% Philip Crane, Rep 121,738 48.1%

For 35 years, Ronald Cerotzke and his wife, Joanne, have cast their ballots for U.S. Rep. Phil Crane, but this year the Arlington Heights couple are thinking it's time for a change. Sitting in the Wauconda American Legion, in the center of Crane's hometown and just blocks from his campaign office, the Cerotzkes said they had heard enough about problem stories about Republican candidates this year. They were particularly bothered about Crane's habit of taking lobbyist-sponsored trips and staying away from his own district. "He doesn't live here. He lives in Virginia," Ronald Cerotzke said. ....snip.... Despite Crane's considerable advantages,...

Since his book came out last month, House Speaker Dennis Hastert has morphed from mostly pragmatic politician into frequent partisan pit bull. The top House Republican, who represents Kane and western DuPage counties, has been in a tussle for weeks with George Soros, a California billionaire and leading donor to Democratic causes. Over the weekend, Hastert let loose his view that Sen. John Kerry is the favored presidential choice of al-Qaida because the Massachusetts Democrat would be less likely than President Bush to respond strongly to a terrorist attack. And Monday, Hastert wasn't backing away from any of his election-year...

GURNEE, Ill. - Melissa Bean hands out seat cushions that spell out the reason Democrats think she can beat veteran Rep. Phil Crane on Nov. 2. They read: "Crane. The Original Seat Warmer. So many years ... so few accomplishments." After 35 years in Congress, Crane, an ardent conservative from the northwestern suburbs of Chicago and the longest-serving Republican in the House, is facing an unexpectedly spirited challenge from Bean, a Democratic political novice who argues the congressman has become too comfortable in Washington. In fact, nervous Republicans have poured extra cash into the race and encouraged Crane to visit...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. Rep. Phil Crane, chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, wants to bring to the floor H.R.3943, a bill that would extend nondiscriminatory, most-favored nation treatment (called mistakenly “normal trade relations” in U.S. parlance) to the products of the Lao People´s Democratic Republic. Such an action at this time would only bring disgrace upon the House of Representatives given the brutal nature of the communist Pathet Lao regime. Any trade policy action should provide real benefits to the American economy while advancing American interests and values in world...